The base of our planet as we know it is, essentially, rock. This element or substance provides sturdy foundations for buildings and other various structures and even sometimes creates them. Our dependency on rock is based on it’s property of steadiness and long lasting characteristic. Throughout scripture Christ is referred to as a “rock” or “rock of salvation”, meaning that we as mortals dependent upon him to ensure our eternal life or exaltation which relates to stone. As Nephi instructs his people he states, “come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation.”(2 Nephi 9:45). As I have journeyed through morality I have found this council to be essential to my happiness and standing with the Lord. As we internalize the doctrine that God is our support and the only sure way to true joy in this life, we will carry our burdens lighter and be filled with strength beyond our own.
How do we internalize this doctrine I just spoke of? By heeding Nephi’s council and coming to Christ. Two major principles of our gospel, prayer and scripture study, are two deliberate actions we can do every day to increase our testimony of Jesus Christ who is our rock and salvation. By studying the scriptures we can draw from the truth offered in it’s pages, and base our actions off of the spirit and guidance we find within. As we come unto Christ through scripture study the false precepts that are taught by the world loosen their hold on us and we come closer to God’s will for us. I learned this while trying to create a habit of scripture study in high school. Taking time to feel the spirit allowed me to feel the his promptings more readily throughout the day and in turn brought me closer to my savior. Because I gained and felt more truth from the scriptures, my testimony was strengthened of Christ as the rock of my salvation and the author of true joy.
The Book of Mormon is one of the corner “stones” of our faith, subject to Jesus Christ. Through the study of the Book of Mormon we rely on that stone to bring us closer to the other stone which is the Savior. President Gordon B. Hinckley stated concerning this book, “The evidence for its truth and validity lies within the covers of the book itself. The test of its truth lies in reading it. It is a book of God. Reasonable men may sincerely question its origin; but those who have read it prayerfully have come to know by a power beyond their natural senses that it is true, that it contains the word of God, that it outlines saving truths of the everlasting gospel, that it came forth by the gift and power of God ‘to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ.’” As previously stated the Book of Mormon has the power to convince us that Jesus is our Rock or support. We have been blessed with this tangible resource from which we can draw knowledge from everyday and will, if read, lead us to Christ. In 2 Nephi, Nephi also instructs us to “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” We must heed Nephi’s council and partake of the scriptures daily, bringing us closer to Christ our Rock of salvation.
As children of God, we can also come to Christ through prayer. By our communication with God, we draw closer to him and recognize him as the rock of our salvation. God commands us to pray for this reason, to increase our faith in Jesus Christ. We increase our faith that he will be steady and sure like a rock. It is important as we pray to be sincere and genuine. The opportunity we have to communicate with God any time we would like is a tremendous blessing that I take for granted. What an empowering thought, to think that The Almighty wants to speak with me. Elder Scott expressed his feelings in the April 2007 General Conference, “It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer”. Another cornerstone of our religion is Joseph Smith and the first vision which began with a prayer. As shown in this event, prayer opens up the windows of heaven to revelation and blessings. In D&C 19:38 the Lord instructs Martin Harris to “Pray always, and I will pour out my spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.” Prayer can draw us to God in a very unique way and strengthen our foundation which is the rock of Christ.
Not only do we depend on the rock of Christ but he is the only mode to eternal exaltation. He is our singular path out of the chaos we were born into on this earth, and we can use scripture study and prayer as modes of worship to come unto him. Isaiah explains about Christ in, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” I have felt my testimony grow as I learn of the Lord and the Spirit witnesses to me that Jesus Christ is my Rock and Salvation. So just as the rock and stone found on this planet are sure foundations for our homes and buildings, Christ is the only way out of mortality and into exaltation.
Old Testament
Isaiah 28:16
Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 32:3
2 Nephi 9:45
Doctrine & Covenants
19:38
Elder Richard G. Scott “The Superlative Gift of Prayer” April General Conference 2007.
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley “The Cornerstones of Our Faith” October General Conference 1984.
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13 comments:
Amy, thank you for your blog post! I liked how you chose two things to elaborate on in-depth, in particular. Make sure that all of your evidence in your paragraphs relate clearly to your topic.
I like the way that you begin with a concrete description of geologic features of the planet. That solid image grounds the rest of your discourse. Well done.
I like how you talked about ways that we can built our lives upon the rock instead of just stating that we should. I also like when you say that Christ WANTS to talk to us, no matter what the circumstance. It's true, and I think sometimes I forget that. Great blog!
I too enjoyed the analogy of the earth. What a great symbolic tie. Christ created the earth, which is solid. He is the most sure foundation. Thank you so much for your blog.
Thank you for your analogy of the earth! Christ is the greatest rock and he does WANT to speak with us-thanks for the reminder!
I love the quotation you used by Elder Scott. Your blog was very interesting to read. Nicely done!
like how you portray God as the corner stone of our salvation and our only sure relief from trials and source of strength.
I loved your title because I love the hymn Rock of Ages. It is a hymn that I'd like to hear sung more in church. It has such a beautiful message.
Christ truly is a constant we can rely on. His atonement is something we all have to profit from and I like how you recognize that God is our foundation of righteousness.
I like how you underline that it is only through Christ that we can achieve exaltation. This is a very important point.
I love how you chose to talk about more than one rock that we can build on. Variety is the spice of life!
your last line really captivated me. You said that Christ is the only way out of mortalitly. I knew that, but i really never thought of it like that. Thanks for sharing your thought and knowledge with me. Great job.
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog. I liked how you started off by talking about what purposes rocks serve and then talked about how Christ is our rock and how it applies.
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